Treatment adherence with the easypod™ growth hormone electronic auto-injector and patient acceptance: survey results from 824 children and their parents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accurately monitoring adherence to treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) enables appropriate intervention in cases of poor adherence. The electronic r-hGH auto-injector, easypod™, automatically records the patient's adherence to treatment. This study evaluated adherence to treatment of children who started using the auto-injector and assessed opinions about the device.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multicentre, multinational, observational 3-month survey in which children received r-hGH as part of their normal care. Physicians reviewed the recorded dose history and children (with or without parental assistance) completed a questionnaire-based survey. Children missing ≤2 injections per month (92% of injections given) were considered adherent to treatment. Adherence was compared between GH treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced children.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 834 recruited participants, 824 were evaluated. The median (range) age was 11 (1-18) years. From the recorded dose history, 87.5% of children were adherent to treatment over the 3-month period. Recorded adherence was higher in treatment-naïve (89.7%, n = 445/496) than in treatment-experienced children (81.7%, n = 152/186) [Fisher's exact test FI(X) = 7.577; <it>p </it>= 0.0062]. According to self-reported data, 90.2% (607/673) of children were adherent over 3 months; 51.5% (421/817) missed ≥1 injection over this period (mainly due to forgetfulness). Concordance between reported and recorded adherence was 84.3%, with a trend towards self-reported adherence being higher than recorded adherence. Most children liked the auto-injector: over 80% gave the top two responses from five options for ease of use (720/779), speed (684/805) and comfort (716/804). Although 38.5% (300/780) of children reported pain on injection, over half of children (210/363) considered the pain to be less or much less than expected. Given the choice, 91.8% (732/797) of children/parents would continue using the device.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>easypod™ provides an accurate method of monitoring adherence to treatment with r-hGH. In children who received treatment with r-hGH using easypod™, short-term adherence is good, and significantly higher in treatment-naïve children compared with experienced children. Children/parents rate the device highly. The high level of acceptability of the device is reflected by a desire to continue using it by over 90% of the children in the survey.</p

Кристаллическая структура системы твердых растворов (1-y)(BiFeO3)-y(Ba1-xSrxTiO3)

The crystal structure of the system of (1-y)(BiFeO3)-y(Ba1-xSrxTiO3)  (0 ≤ x ≤1; 0,2 ≤ y ≤ 0,4) solid solutions was studied based on the X-ray diffraction data and the scanning electron microscopy results. The obtained results have allowed determining the concentration ranges of a single-phase structural state, as well as the regions of coexistence of two structure phases. It is shown that an increase in the concentration of the dopant ions leads to a decrease in rhombohedral distortions. The structure of the compounds with y = 0.25-0.33 is characterized by the coexistence of the rhombohedral and pseudocubic phases. Further chemical doping leads to the transformation of the structure; it becomes single-phase and has a cubic symmetry.  Splitting of the reflections specific to the rhombohedral phase completely disappears for the compounds with y = 0.35; 0.40. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the structure of solid solutions in the region of the concentration phase transition. The evolution of crystallite morphology was determined as a function of the type of structure distortions and dopants concentration.Кристаллическая структура система: твердых растворов (1-y)(BiFeO3)-y(Ba1-xSrxTiO3)  (0 ≤  x ≤ 1; 0,2 ≤  y ≤  0,4) определена на основании данных, полученных методом дифракции рентгеновского излучения, а также результатов сканирующей электронной микроскопии. Полученные результаты позволили уточнить концентраццонные области однофазного структурного состояния, а также области сосуществования двух структурных фаз в исследуемой системе. Показано, что увеличение концентрации ионов-заместителей приводит к уменьшению ромбоэдрических искажений. Структуру составов c у = 0,25-0,33 можно уточнить, предполагая сосуществование ромбоэдрической и псевдокубической фаз. Дальнейшее замещение приводит к трансформации структуры, она становится однофазной с кубической симметрией. Расщепление рефлексов, характеризующих ромбоэдрическую фазу, полностью исчезает для составов с у = 0,35; 0,40. Особое внимание уделено анализу структуры твердых растворов в области концентрационного фазового перехода. Определена эволюция морфологии кристаллитов в зависимости от типа структурных искажений и концентрации ионов стронция

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of (1-x)BiFeO3 - xBaTiO3 ceramics across the phase boundary

Кристаллическая структура и магнитные свойства бессвинцовой керамики (1-x)BiFeO3 - xBaTiO3 (x<0,40) приготовленной методом твердофазной реакции, были изучены в зависимости от химического состава и температура. The crystal structure and magnetic properties of lead-free ceramics (1-x)BiFeO3 - xBaTiO3 (x<0.40) prepared by solid state reaction method were studied depending on the chemical composition and temperature

The COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Seasonality, With Increasing Cases of New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes in Children, From the Worldwide SWEET Registry

Objective: To analyze whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased the number of cases or impacted seasonality of new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in large pediatric diabetes centers globally. Research design and methods: We analyzed data on 17,280 cases of T1D diagnosed during 2018-2021 from 92 worldwide centers participating in the SWEET registry using hierarchic linear regression models. Results: The average number of new-onset T1D cases per center adjusted for the total number of patients treated at the center per year and stratified by age-groups increased from 11.2 (95% CI 10.1-12.2) in 2018 to 21.7 (20.6-22.8) in 2021 for the youngest age-group, <6 years; from 13.1 (12.2-14.0) in 2018 to 26.7 (25.7-27.7) in 2021 for children ages 6 to <12 years; and from 12.2 (11.5-12.9) to 24.7 (24.0-25.5) for adolescents ages 12-18 years (all P < 0.001). These increases remained within the expected increase with the 95% CI of the regression line. However, in Europe and North America following the lockdown early in 2020, the typical seasonality of more cases during winter season was delayed, with a peak during the summer and autumn months. While the seasonal pattern in Europe returned to prepandemic times in 2021, this was not the case in North America. Compared with 2018-2019 (HbA1c 7.7%), higher average HbA1c levels (2020, 8.1%; 2021, 8.6%; P < 0.001) were present within the first year of T1D during the pandemic. Conclusions: The slope of the rise in pediatric new-onset T1D in SWEET centers remained unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a change in the seasonality at onset became apparent.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cyanamide mode of action during inhibition of onion (Allium cepa L.) root growth involves disturbances in cell division and cytoskeleton formation

Cyanamide is an allelochemical produced by hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.). Its phyotoxic effect on plant growth was examined on roots of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulbs. Water solution of cyanamide (2–10 mM) restricted growth of onion roots in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment of onion roots with cyanamide resulted in a decrease in root growth rate accompanied by a decrease in accumulation of fresh and dry weight. The inhibitory effect of cyanamide was reversed by its removal from the environment, but full recovery was observed only for tissue treated with this chemical at low concentration (2–6 mM). Cytological observations of root tip cells suggest that disturbances in cell division may explain the strong cyanamide allelopathic activity. Moreover, in cyanamide-treated onion the following changes were detected: reduction of mitotic cells, inhibition of proliferation of meristematic cells and cell cycle, and modifications of cytoskeleton arrangement

Кристаллическая и магнитная структуры твердых растворов на основе BiFeO3

The correlation between the multiphase state of the system and its magnetic properties was studied on Bi1–xEuxFeO3 ceramic samples in the range 0.12 ≤ x ≤ 0.18. The X-ray diffraction results indicate that, with an increase in the concentration of Eu ions, a structural transition from the rhombohedral (R3c) to nonpolar orthorhombic (Pnma) phase is observed through the partial formation of an antipolar orthorhombic structure (Pbam). The mixed phase state in the obtained compounds is observed in the range 0.12 ≤ x ≤ 0.16. Magnetic measurements in a strong magnetic field indicate a weak ferromagnetic interaction. The magnetic response in a strong field is explained by the location of the spins at the phase boundary, as well as by the presence of intrinsic antiferromagnetic spins.Исследование корреляции между многофазным состоянием системы и ее магнитными свойствами было проведено на керамических образцах Bi1-xEuxFeO3 с 0,12 ≤ x ≤ 0,18. Результаты рентгеновской дифракции свидетельствуют о том, что с увеличением концентрации ионов Eu наблюдается структурный переход от ромбоэдрической (R3c) к неполярной орторомбической (Pnma) фазе через частичное образование антиполярной орторомбической структуры (Pbam). Смешанное фазовое состояние в полученных соединениях наблюдается в интервале 0,12 ≤ x ≤ 0,16. Магнитные измерения в сильном магнитном поле указывают на слабое ферромагнитное взаимодействие. Магнитный отклик в сильном поле объясняется расположением спинов на фазовой границе, а также наличием собственных антиферромагнитных спинов

Association between vascular endothelial growth factor and hypertension in children and adolescents type I diabetes mellitus

The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the incidence of hypertension (HT) in children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM). One hundred and five patients with T1DM were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 30 healthy controls. All the T1DM patients were subjected to biochemical analyses, ophthalmologic examination and 24-h blood pressure monitoring. Besides, all the patients and healthy controls had serum VEGF levels measured with the use of the ELISA methodology. The essence of our research is that patients with T1DM and HT and with microalbuminuria (MA) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) (MA/DR) are characterized by a significantly higher level of VEGF (340.23±93.22 pg ml–1) in blood serum in comparison with the group of T1DM patients without HT and MA/DR (183.6±96.6 pg ml–1) and with healthy controls (145.32±75.58 pg ml–1). In addition, the VEGF level was significantly higher in T1DM patients, who presented all three complications, that is HT, retinopathy and MA in comparison with T1DM patients without HT, but with MA/DR (P=0.036). On the other hand, no statistically significant differences (P=0.19) were noted in the level of VEGF in serum between T1DM patients without HT and MA/DR and the healthy control group. At a further stage of analysis, using the method of multiple regression, it was shown that systolic pressure, HbA1c and duration of disease are independent factors influencing the concentration of VEGF. Summarizing, the measurement of VEGF serum levels allows for the identification of groups of patients who have the highest risk of HT and, subsequently, progression of vascular complications